Remotely controlled mobile seagoing sensor platform

ABSTRACT

A remotely controlled seagoing platform of spar buoy configuration is self-propelled and includes hydrofoils for greater mobility. Mechanism is provided on board the craft for changing the center of gravity for transition from horizontal operation to vertical operation on the surface.

1Jnited States Patent 1 91 1111 3,842,774 Kinder 1 Oct. 22, 1974 REMOTELY CONTROLLED MOBILE 2586.828 2/1952 1466mm 9/8 R SEAGOING SENSOR PLATFORM 3,106,17 10/1963 Traksel et al. 114/665 H 3,279,407 10/1966 Stenger 114/665 H [75] Inventor: loyd K m Lake, Callf- 3,613,622 10/1971 81.161161 114/665 H Assigneez The Unied States of America as 3,667,239 6/1972 Mott 9/8 P X represented by the Secretary of the PH y Ex i er yg M Blix N W h' t D.C. m m n as mg on Assistant Examiner-Barry L. Kelmachter 1 1 Flledi p 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-R. S. Sciascia; Roy Miller; 211 App]. No.2 397,532 Baker [52 U.S. c1 ll4/66.5 n, 9/8 P [57] ABSTRACT 51] 1111. C1 1863b 1/26 A remotely wntrolled Seagoing Platform of W y [58] Fi ld f S ar h 1 14/65 5 H, 21 R, 21 w configuration is self-propelled and includes hydrofoils 1 23; 9 R, 3 p; 343/709 for greater mobility. Mechanism is provided on board v v the craft for changing the center of gravity for transi- 5 1 R fere Ci tion from horizontal operation to vertical operation on UNITED STATES PATENTS the Surface- 1,544,746 7/1925 Hammond 114/21 R X 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures REMOTELY CONTROLLED MOBILE SEAGOING SENSOR PLATFORM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a seaworthy platform of spar buoy configuration and more particularly to such a platform which may be readily moved by remote control. A remotely controlled, self-propelled buoy, for example, is shown in assignees prior US. Pat. No. 2,941,492 to Kenneth H. Wilcoxon, issued June 21, 1960. Although this prior art buoy was adequate for its purpose of towing a hydrophone, for example, from one place to another, it was severly limited as to speed, maneuverability and range. I

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a seaworthy remotely controlled vehicle of spar buoy configuration having an extended range and great flexibility of use.

According to the present invention, a craft of spar buoy configuration has been provided with remotely controllable means for propelling the buoy from one place to another and hydrofoils have been added to increase speed and seaworthiness when moving from one place to another. When on station, stability is increased by extending ballast means below the buoy. The buoy is designed to carry sensors on board such as TV, radar, sonar and electronic counter-measures devices.

The invention is a development of the Naval Weapons Center (NWC) under the title of Mobile Aquatic Sensor Teleoperator (MAST). The vehicle is capable of high speed (around 50 knots) and has a deployment range of about 250nautical miles. The vehicle can be placed in the'water directly overside from a destroyer or similar craft or may be surface delivered by a helicopter.

When at rest in the water the vehicle assumes an attitude of approximately 45. Upon command from a control center, for example, the propulsion system may be activated causing the vehicle to rise into its under way configuration. The vehicle then proceeds under direction of the control center at speeds up to 50 knots to its planned station. Upon arrival at a predetermined station, the propulsion system is shut down and the vehicle assumes its inactive on station posture.

The center of gravity of the vehicle may be repositioned by lowering a weighted cable or the like, preferably containing sonar probe equipment. This brings the unit to a vertical position in the water to accomplish its design funtion as a spar buoy. In this latter position, various extensible elements such as masts and hydrophone equipment may be deployed. The height to which a mast may be extended is limited only by the center of gravity of the unit.

The unit is designed to be propelled by a jet pump powered by a gas driven engine. The vehicle may be steered by changing the angular position of the jet pump propulsion means. The structure is an integrated cylindrical structure fabricated from lightweight modular tubular subsections, each subsection containing elements of the mission payload. The subsections may be of plastic, for example, or open frame metal. An auxiliary power unit is preferably included in one of the subsections to supply the required wattage to operate onboard equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 depicting the craft under way;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the craft of FIG. 1 depicted in an inactive state;

FIG. 4 is a top elevation of the craft of FIG. 1 in its vertical position; and

FIG. 5 is a top elevation of a second embodiment in upright position.

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION The craft shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1 has a tubular body 12 supported by after hydrofoils 14 and 16 and a forward hydrofoil 18 which may include a plurality of vanes 18. The unit is propelled by a jet pump 20 powered by a turbine engine 22. An air scoop 24 is provided on the forward end of the craft to supply air for the turbine engine 22.

When the craft is in motion it assumes a position wherein the body 12 is approximately parallel to the ocean surface and forward motion is from ,rightto left as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. When the unit comes to rest it assumes a position of approximately 45 to the ocean surface as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows the unit having ballast, which may be combined with hydrophone equipment 28, deployed below the surface. The weight of the hydrophone equipment 28 or other ballast is. made sufficient to bring the unit to the stable vertical position as shown. For greater efficiency in communications a telescoping mast 30 has been extended above the unit. The unit is shown with a forward nose type fairing 32 which automatically parts into two halves when the mast extension mechanism is actuated. The mast 30 is designed to carry one or more sensors 34 to a height of about 40 feet.

A slightly different design is shown in FIG. 5 wherein a single diamond shaped after hydrofoil 114 is used and the forward hydrofoil 118 comprises two folding arms 119, 121 which are extended outwardly and downwardly each time before the craft gets under way.

The hydrofoil design may be either a self-controlling, surface-piercing type or a simple controlled submerged system. A distance of 50 feet is considered necessary to make an effective self-controlling, surface piercing hydrofoil system for heavy sea states. A basic length of around 30 feet to afford ease in handling is preferred in a controlled submerged system. Since the vehicle according to the invention is to be unmanned, the design approach has been aimed at control and speed rather than smoothness of ride.

Although the power system for the unit has been described above as a water jet propulsion system driven by a gas turbine it is conceivable that other propulsion systems driven by other power plants such as diesel engines could be utilized. Power for transition'from spar buoy to hydrofoil could be provided by compressed air energy stored in tanks.

What is claimed is:

1. For use as a remotely controllable self-propelled seagoing platform vehicle; the combination comprismg:

an elongated tubular hull;

a power plant attached to said hull at one end thereof designated as the aft end;

propulsion means associated with said power plant at said aft end effective to propel said vehicle through water;

first hydrofoil means extending from said aft end;

second hydrofoil means spaced from said first hydrofoil means and positioned near the forward end of said hull; and

air supply means communicating with said power plant and opening near said forward end of said vehicle;

said first hydrofoil means including at least one hydrofoil unit comprising a plurality of planar members, at least two of which intersect in a line parallel to and spaced from said hull and extending into the water when the vehicle is underway;

said second hydrofoil comprising at least one planar hydrofoil member extending from said hull with the mid plane of the planar member passing through the longitudinal axis of said hull; and

a plurality of hydrofoil vanes extending angularly from said planar member of said second hydrofoil.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said power plant is a gas turbine engine;

said propulsion means is a jet pump; and

said hydrofoils are of the self-controlling surfacepiercing type.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the center of gravity is so placed that the vehicle at rest will assume approximately 45 angle with the surface of the water when at rest; and

extensible ballast means in the aft end of said vehicle which, when extended, will cause the vehicle to assume a vertical position.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said first hydrofoil means comprises two spaced apart hydrofoil units each comprising a plurality of planar members at least two of which members intersect in a line parallel to and spaced from said hull and extending into the water when the vehicle is under way.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the center of gravity is so placed that the vehicle at rest will assume approximately 45 angle with the surface of the water when at rest; and

extensible ballast means in the aft end of said vehicle which, when extended, will cause the vehicle to assume a vertical position.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said first hydrofoil consists of a single diamond shaped arrangement of planar surfaces. 

1. For use as a remotely controllable self-propelled seagoing platform vehicle; the combination comprising: an elongated tubular hull; a power plant attached to said hull at one end thereof designated as the aft end; propulsion means associated with said power plant at said aft end effective to propel said vehicle through water; first hydrofoil means extending from said aft end; second hydrofoil means spaced from said first hydrofoil means and positioned near the forward end of said hull; and air supply means communicating with said power plant and opening near said forward end of said vehicle; said first hydrofoil means including at least one hydrofoil unit comprising a plurality of planar members, at least two of which intersect in a line parallel to and spaced from said hull and extending into the water when The vehicle is underway; said second hydrofoil comprising at least one planar hydrofoil member extending from said hull with the mid plane of the planar member passing through the longitudinal axis of said hull; and a plurality of hydrofoil vanes extending angularly from said planar member of said second hydrofoil.
 2. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said power plant is a gas turbine engine; said propulsion means is a jet pump; and said hydrofoils are of the self-controlling surface-piercing type.
 3. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the center of gravity is so placed that the vehicle at rest will assume approximately 45* angle with the surface of the water when at rest; and extensible ballast means in the aft end of said vehicle which, when extended, will cause the vehicle to assume a vertical position.
 4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said first hydrofoil means comprises two spaced apart hydrofoil units each comprising a plurality of planar members at least two of which members intersect in a line parallel to and spaced from said hull and extending into the water when the vehicle is under way.
 5. The vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the center of gravity is so placed that the vehicle at rest will assume approximately 45* angle with the surface of the water when at rest; and extensible ballast means in the aft end of said vehicle which, when extended, will cause the vehicle to assume a vertical position.
 6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said first hydrofoil consists of a single diamond shaped arrangement of planar surfaces. 